Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 10, 1 October 1990 — Makaku [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Makaku

By Rocky Ka'iouliokahihikolo 'Ehu Jensen ©

Do you understand?

Do you get the feeling that your words have fallen on deaf ears? Or that the meaning of your convictions is misinterpreted? "What is he trying to say?" they ask. "Exactly what is he angry about? He always seems to be qriping about something." And gripe I do! 1 admit it! You see, I am kanaka maoli and I seem to have lost the way home. "1 read Makaku and I believe in what you say, brother." And then there are those that say, "1 read Makaku and I find you too negative." Auwe, God forbid that we should make waves! Can't please everyone! I thought I was writing to make others aware of both the positive and negative in our artistic society. But, I knew the job was dangerous when I took it! I'm told that I've ruffled some feathers. "Whose," I asked? "People in high places," I am told. Hopefully, some eyes were opened. "What are these native Hawaiians trying to do? Do they think that they ean create fine arts? Why, they only do crafts, don't they?" Surprise! Although small in number, I think that we have managed to set a precedent. Feathers behind glass, carved ki'i on pedestals, plaited lauhala and kapa stretched and framed. Our artists glorified in the persistenceof culture . . . traditional and contemporary. A voice said, "Can't take him too seriously, he carves tikis doesn't he?" You're damn right I do, and proud of it. A carued ki'i is a !anguage that is eapahle of expressing the quintessence of our people's genius. Do you understana ? 1 did! A long time ago! I looked into Ku's empty eyes and saw the story of our people. Kanaka maoli used sculptures to record our sacred knowledge and to convey it from one generation to another. A journalist said, "You've made your people too grand!" "Not grand enough," I answered. So many obstacles, so few years to overcome them all. There is a special quality in carving ki'i that achieves its effect within the rigorous discipline of a known tradition and whieh was made not as mere decoration but to serve a particular and important function.

Do you understand? "His proposal did not meet afl the requirements?" Come on, give me a break! But, that's all right! I don't give up so easy! A full understanding of sculpture must take into account three elements: the abstract qualities of its form; the language of its style the message that it was created to convey. Do you understand? The message that it was created to convey? A message that conveyed the quintessence of our genius. Exactly what requirements are you talking about? Quintessence of our genius! Quintessence of our genius! Our "high art" form conveyed the quintessence of our genius! Do you understand? "You don't want him, he's a troublemaker!" Better yet, "You don't want him, he's a rebel." A friend answered, "Aren't we all? If not, we should be!" Mahalo friend! I wrote an article last month. Too provocative! It was cut, then relegated to the letter section. The sting removed, it no longer conveyed the basis of my anger, frustration, disappointment.

Our ancient carvings are an encapsulation of the structure of the universe, a testament to religious beliefs and a record of our history. Do you understand? Works of art are acts of eommunieahon! Do you understand? And thwarting the reintroduction of the carving of our ancestral images means . . . stilling that onee powerful voice. Do you understand? This is my last article! I bid you farewell! To understand the message of the ki'i fully, and to appreciate its qualities, we have to know something about the artist who produced it, the society to whieh he belonged and the purpose for whieh he fought for its survival. Mai ka po mai 'oia'i'o! Truth is before time, before life, before the great ki'i. The ki'i . . . the image . . . the mirror image of akua . . . was created to convey it! Aloha! Rocky Ka'iouliokahihikolo 'Ehu Jensen is founder and director of the Hale Naua III, Society of Natiue Hawaiian Arts. With his wife, Lueia Tarallo-Jensen, he has produced, mounted and participated in more than 100 natiue fine arts exhibitions. It was he who introduced the contemporary form of natiue Hawaiian arts into the artistic consciousness of Hawai'i. Thefirst contemporary natiue Hawaiian art display was organized by Rocky Jensen in 1978 at Bishop Museum. Jensen's works haue been exhibited in leading museums on the mainland, in Europe and in New Zealand. Jensen serues as cultural aduisor to numerous organizations in the Islands and as a lecturer. In addition, he has illustrated and co-authored seuera! natiue cultural books including "Men of Ancient Hawai'i," "Lord of the Forest" and "Wana'ao: The Dawning". Editor's note: Rocky Jensen has been author of "Makaku", a eolumn on Hawaiian artistic issues, since May 1987. His viewpoints have gone to the heart of Hawaiian artistic creativity born of the deep eonneehon between spirituality and society. Ka Wai Ola O OHA and its readers wish to express their mahalo to Rocky and Lueia for seeking to correct misconceptions of Hawaiian art and to raise our collective consciousness about the identity of Kanaka Maoli. Mahalo also to son Frank and daughter Natalie whose art has also contributed to the eolumn. He ipu ka'eo. (A full calabash.) A knowledgeable person. Also expressed 'Umeke ka'eo. From "Olelo No'eau, Hawaiian Prouerbs and Poetical Sayings," published by Bishop Museum Press.